Wednesday, January 28, 2009

P is for porcupine~







Have you ever been doing a project that was going so wrong, but you HAD to finish.... YOU JUST HAD to FINISH no matter what!?



Even though you thought you were going to DIE before you got through it?



Ugh.



This should have been FUN. Normally I would look forward to each step, yearning to see the outcome.




Not this time.



Hmmm... they look cute and innocent enough don't they?


Nova and his preschool class are learning about the letter "P" this week. Tomorrow is my day to bring snacks. So after being inspired by the critters in Over The Hedge, I thought how cute would that be to make porcupine cupcakes?

It'll be a CINCH thought I..... one of the quickest cake decorating projects ever.....


Just use a grass tip...




...and paint a few lines on the inside of the piping bag with brown food coloring so the quils would be variegated....

...Slap a face on 'em, and voila!
Hmpf.


Thank goodness these are for children, who will not care what they look like.... and actually, they're not too bad. But they are FAR from my vision.



I HATE making icing. I have dabbled in cake decorating for years thanks to my mom, but haven't made much icing. Mom always made it. I helped do a wedding cake in Home EC in highschool for a pretend wedding... but the teacher made the icing.



I don't know what I did, or didn't do. But I could not get the icing to perform for me. Perhaps it is just the grass tip, which I hope I NEVER have to use again. GRASS TIP SUCKS!!



At any rate, I wanted to break down and cry after doing about 2 cup cakes. And I had 10 more to do. (Thank goodness it's a small class!)


I seriously thought I was gonna lose it while working on the last one.
I'd rather birth 12 babies naturally!



My hands were shaking... It took over an HOUR, when I should've been able to knock these out in about 5-10 minutes! BLHAHAHAHHH!




I was dreading doing the icing beforehand and even asked the Walmart bakery if they sold their decorating icing in a tub. No luck. Phooey.




Anyhoo.... here they are. They're cute. They're edible. That's all that matters.





In this pic you can kinda see the variegation on the top ones (click to enlarge)
... the food coloring just did not "paint" on the vinyl bags, it beaded up. I thought I remembered the Wilton pro food colors to be more pasty, not slimy. So, would have to use parchment bags for that I suppose. Good thing I made chocolate cakes so they have *some* other color showing through!





OK.... after spilling my guts and crying on your shoulders here.... I think all I really needed was a large grass tip. Which... you will not find, in a little one horse town such as the one I live in. Ahh well, maybe next time.

27 comments:

Harbor Hon said...

What are you saying? I think you did a spectacular job! I immediately thought they look like porcupines! I would definitely hire you to make them if I needed them. xxoo

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

I think they are adorable.I could not even attempt to do what you did.I know I would be bald as a bat.Like you said kids will love them ,no matter.LOL...Hugs Marie Antionette

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Oh, I think they are adorable! You are your own worst critic! Love your creative idea! Sometimes creative minds get us in a lot of trouble, huh?

Katherine

Donna said...

Those are adorable!!!!! What are you talking about? Even if you hadn't explained the porcupine concept to us, it was obvious what they were!
They put a smile on my face. :)

Anonymous said...

They are TOTALLY adorable!

Susan said...

Oh My Gosh I just LOVE these little guys. I am off to tell my daughter Sarah to come visit your blog..she and I both LOVE cupcakes..they really are a work of art Nikki!

Justine said...

You're complaining about those? They came out absolutely adorable!!!!!!! But girl, you should have just sat your butt down and eaten a few. I'm sure that would have taken the edge off a bit!

Justine :o )

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

You did great girl...and I am talking about really great. These are adorable! I bet Nova and his classmates are going to be so thrilled over these. They sure don't look easy to make. I know one thing...I could eat one, about right now...they look yummy! Your post was so cute ...your description of how the cupcakes became porcupines....oh, I can just imagine myself undergoing a project something like this...omgosh, I don't even want to think about it...I can assure you they wouldn't have turned out wonderful like your's did. I'll say this...all of your hard work is going to make an extra special day for Nova and his classmates and a wonderful memory too. I bet he is so proud of his mommy. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Mary said...

Nikki, what are you talking about? Those cupcakes are adorable and the kids are going to love them. I do know what you mean though, I have been there when I just wanted to cry. Those little porcupine cupcakes are so cute!!

Decor To Adore said...

Oh these are adorable!

Danette said...

Nikki~
These are ADORABLE!
Mt sister & I used to do cakes and I know only too well that hand shaking-wanting to cry point! But I'd say you pulled it together beautifully!

Jaede said...

Oh my goodness, they are so adorable, how cute are those little faces. You did a fabulous job, it's a shame to eat them. I bet the kids will love them xxx

Heather said...

Sweetie, I don't know what vision you had but these little guys are way too cute for words!! Oh my goodness!! I want to make them now just to make them! But I can guarantee they exceed my ability. I do know what it is like to go in with an idea and watch it fall apart. Remember the little fish tanks I made for a birthday party last August............oh I feel your pain. Great job! They do look amazing! Nova's mommy is So cool!!
HUGS
Heather:)

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

What?! They are fantastic and so adorable.

paintergal said...

You are much too hard on yourself. They're adorable!

La Tea Dah said...

Nikki, you are the best room mother! Your cupcakes are adorable! Your hand must be very weary from pushing on the applicator, but they are adorable!!! I think they are the cutest cupcakes I've ever seen --- and the children will love all the sweetness!

Great job!

LaTeaDah

One Shabby Old House said...

They turned out wonderful. You did an awesome job. A mother's labor of love done well!
Becky

Jill said...

How absolutely adorable! I LOVE them! It took you an hour, that was pretty fast, if you ask me...it would have taken me all day!

You deserve a pat on the back! You did a super duper job!
~Jill

Sandy~Romantique Inspirations~ said...

OMG, The real porcupine shots are adorable. Never seen baby ones before. As I scrolled down I just about died. Those porcupine cupcakes are just to darn cute. You did a fabulous job on those, I still can't believe it. Send some my way ok?

Anonymous said...

The hedgehog cupcakes are cute as can be!

Life on the Edge said...

Okay, it looks like everybody else who posted before me used the same word, but oh my goodness, those are so freaking ADORABLE! I bet the kids just loved them!

You should seriously post this idea in a magazine!

Sorry I haven't been visiting in so long. I'm getting back in the swing of things finally. And I am going to be a lady of leisure soon. Check out my latest. Yes, I am trying to elicit sympathy!

Kady

Unknown said...

Actually.... they are totally adorable!!! :)
Good job!

~Liz

Traci @ The Bakery said...

OMG!!! How cute!!! The things we do for our kids....and now he'll always be able to "remember" them via the blog....so sweet.

Hey, how do you get the links to this post at the bottom of your comments?

. said...

er, they may have been a pia but honey, those look amazing! seriously, they're super cute!
gaah! now i want a cupcake.

big hugs!
claire

Lallee said...

I was all set to give you lots of sympathy and 'it's OK' as I was reading and scrolling down. Then I come to the end and see those adorable cutie patooties that are way better than I could ever dream of concocting. You have other mothers sweating now. Oh the pressure you must be causing them. ROFL!

ThisleRose said...

Rather birth 12 babies naturally?? I'll take the cute cupcakes thank you very much!

Unknown said...

try www.doitwithicing.com they have the larger grass tip and tubs of buttercream icing. I'm pretty sure they would ship to you, LOL!